Cremation vs. Burial Costs

While cremation has been around for centuries, not many people in North America opt for it. However, with many people preferring fewer complexes and demanding funeral arrangements, there seems to be considerable interest in cremation. At Wagg Funeral Home, we've observed that many individuals now prefer cremation over burial, thanks to the former's reduced cost.

Costs of Cremation vs. Burial

Here’s a brief look better the price difference between burials and cremation.

While cremation may be less expensive than burial, the distinction may not be quite as great as people imagine. This component will be determined by the services chosen by the family—whether a basic or expensive cremation is requested. The following are some of the reasons cremation may be less costly than a conventional burial:

• Typically, traditional cemetery burials are preceded by funeral ceremonies, and often, families hold memorial services following the burial. By contrast, families who choose cremation typically favour more informal, shorter, and simple services, saving them between $500 and $1,000.
• Viewings or visitations accompany traditional funerals, but most families that opt for cremation forego these events. This saves time and money by avoiding the need to hire a mortician for tasks such as cosmetics and hair, embalming, personnel, and venue costs, among others. This can result in savings somewhere between $1500-$1700.
• Costs associated with conventional burial include transport and graveside services, a burial vault & casket, a marker, opening and closing charges, and the price of the burial site. Families who choose cremation save these fees by scattering the deceased's ashes at sea or storing the urn with the ashes at home. You could end up saving $4000-$4500 in this way.

If you need any additional information, feel free to call us and speak with the funeral director at Wagg Funeral Home. We can help you preplan a funeral and provide information about the different services available.